Notaí Gramadúla

(1) "because a man of the Dál Cais took the rule from them."

(2) "Mahon was attacked" (literally "it was attacked on Mahon"

(3) literally "Brian was now in his king of Munster." This is the standard
way of expressing temporary rather than permanent attributes using the verb
tá. He had now become king, but hadn't always been. Permanent attributes
are usually expressed using the copula, e.g. is fear é. He is a man (and
always has been).

(4) literally "A high king was made of Maoileachlainn" i.e. Maoileachlainn
was made (or became) high king.

(5) literally "There was no surpassing of him to get in Ireland as as a
soldier ever before." i.e. "There had never before been a greater warrior
in Ireland than he was.

(6) literally "He was not able to maintain permanant occupancy at Dublin"
i.e. he was unable to permanantly occupy Dublin

(7) "and they continued, from time to time, to attack each other."

(8) literally "it did not rise to either of them against the other" i.e.
Neither of them was successful against the other.

(9) "and a treaty was made between them." (eatarthu = idir + iad)

(10) "It was decided that Brian would be king of the southern part (of
Ireland) (the District of Mogh) and Maeileachlainn would be king of the
northern part (the District of Conn)

(11) literally "Brian broke upon them in a great battle" i.e. he defeated
them in a great battle.

(12) "and he intended (shíl sé) to set Maoileachlainn aside and
take the high kingship for himself."

(13) "Maoilseachlainn realized that Brian was about to break the
arrangement that they had made."

(14) "and he gave up the high kingship."

(15) "Brian was now 61 years of age and high king of Ireland."

(16) "and the Book of Armagh was shown to him."

(17) Literally "at coming to the town to Brian" i.e. "As Brian
came to the town." The preposition is used here to express the
agent of the verbal noun used in a circumstantial clause. This
use is literary.

(18) Literally "there was poison of the meat at them towards
each other", i.e. "they hated each other like poison."

(19) "She said that it was not proper that he should be
subservient to Brian."

(20) note that "ómóis" is in the genitive. A noun object
following a verbal noun is always in the genitive case.

(21) "if they would not pay the tribute."

(22) literally "and a stop was put on the conflict" (cuireadh is an
past autonomous form) i.e. "the fighting ceased"

(23) "the battle which was to come" le with the verbal noun can
express (as it does here) an action that is expected to take place
in the (near) future.

(24) "because Ireland was promised to him as a kingdom"

(25) "The greater part of the Leinstermen, under the authority
of Maelmordha, were there ready for battle."

(26) "and a great host (was) with him from Dál gCais

(27) "the two armies were out in front of each other."

(28) "it was a fight without respite, without mercy" This is
a typical use of "tá" (after a relative pronoun) using the
preposition "i" to express a predicate, e.g. "Bean mhaith atá
inti" - "she is a good woman."

(29) "the directing of the battle was left to his son, Murchú."

(30) "the battle was fought"

(31) "and horrible was the great number of dead upon the field of
slaughter."

(32) "A large part of the chieftains on both sides were killed
before the battle was over"

(33) "Brian's body was taken to Armagh and his body was buried
under the high altar."